A common topic of discussion and debate, cannabis is a complex plant with various chemical compounds that function in many different capacities within the human body. Extracts from Cannabis sativa L. which contain many phytocannabinoids, includes CBD and THC, have been used for both medicinal and recreational purposes for many centuries. The most frequently debated chemical compound found in the cannabis plant is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), considered the most psychoactive cannabinoid which lowered response time and impaired memory. In the other hand cannabidiol, CBD is one of the most abundant phytocannabinoids isolated from Cannabis sativa L., has aroused increased research interest in its very important pharmacological and medicinal properties due to its lack of psychotropic activity. THC and CBD are structurally very similar, share the same molecular formula, C21H30O2 and very similar biosynthesis pathway. The only difference is, THC contain a cyclic pyran ring and CBD contains its open ring system. However the small chemical structural differences in THC and CBD demonstrate entirely different pharmacological properties. In this experiment, students will evaluate the structures of THC and CBD with computer modeling program and model kits, which will allows students to identify structural differences in each compound and to determine how a small difference in functional groups leads to big different in biological functions. The computer program will also provide students with NMR data to identifying carbon and hydrogen framework in a molecule as well as stereochemistry and polarity of chemical compounds. This laboratory experiment is designed for organic chemistry students, who has already studied stereochemistry, polarity and different spectroscopy techniques.

Structural analysis of cannabis using computational molecular modeling

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.